Williams and capital punishment

The bid for clemency and scheduled execution of Stanley Tookie Williams caused pain and anguish for people on both sides of the case and both sides of the debate. And it ignited a media frenzy heard ‘round the world. But regardless of your position on capital punishment, one fact remains: If there were no death penalty, Williams would have been in a jail cell for the rest of his life, and his activities and causes -- good or bad -- would likely be unknown and unheralded by most of the world.

ART VERITY

Van Nuys

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I believe that most of the debate over Williams missed the real issue regarding the death penalty: It isn’t whether Williams deserved to die but whether we deserved to kill him. Until we have a legal system that is categorically and irrefutably free of error, prejudice, sloth, incompetence, political ambition and simple human frailty, the answer to that question is “no.”

VIC WALTON

Santa Barbara

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How ironic that during the advent of this peaceful season of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, we are poised to put a man to death in the name of the people of California. Yes, I will still celebrate the holidays, but I will also add a special prayer this year. No, not for Williams, but for penitence and for the people of the U.S. to finally abolish the death penalty and in God’s name obey his commandment not to kill, at any time of the year.

ERIC SAUDI

Altadena